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I've spent the last week putting out fires with business interests in Central Europe so a planned venture with the Royal House of Volyarus can go through. It almost didn't happen, but unwilling to miss Tanzi's big day, I gave the two companies causing trouble an ultimatum.
Shape up or forfeit the contract. My refusal to negotiate even one more point got through to them and everything is a go.
If only my private life was as easy to wrangle.
I dial Tanzi's number.
She picks up on the first ring. "Are you here?"
"I'm in New York. I'll be there before the ceremony starts." Bodyguards she didn't see the last time I was in New York trail behind.
I dismissed them in Sicily, but when my father found out, heorderedme not to do it again.
As both my king and my parent, the order carries some punch. I still don't like it.
Things that never before irritated me about my status are annoying the hell out of me lately. Probably because I have no idea how Tanzi is going to respond to learning I’m a prince and what that entails for us.
"Um…"
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Not exactly. Look, Rio, I really want you here today, but is it okay if you meet my parents someplace less stressful? Less public," she adds in a mutter. "The whole family is going to be here. I'd rather introduce you to them at my grandfather's house tomorrow."
She sounds stressed and if agreeing will take some of the tension out of her voice, I'm good with it. "No problem."
Not being with her family in the audience to the graduation means you won't be linked to her in the news if anyone sees you, too.
I want to ignore my inner voice taunting me, but I can't. My easy acquiescence has as much to do with me as it does with her comfort and that pisses me off.
At myself.
"You'll know I'm there for you, even if no one else does," I remind both her and that sarcastic voice in my head.
"Yes." There was a wealth of emotion in that one word. "So, Mom and Dad understand I want to celebrate with my friends tonight."
"Sì?"Does she want to drag me to a college graduation party with her friends?
I've only ever met two of them and I wouldn't mind seeing Joni and Dylan again, though I'd rather have Tanzi all to myself. Yes, it's selfish, so I don't say that out loud.
But it's been three long weeks since I touched her.
"Only, well, I'd rather just spend it with you."
Relief and pleasure are a heady mix, but I ask, "Are you sure?"
"Absolutely. I don't want to share you with anyone the first time I see you after three weeks."
It's so close to what I'm thinking, my self-castigation stops. This will give me the chance to tell her what I need to about my own family. Something I did not want to do over the phone, or even a video call.
"It will be my pleasure to help you celebrate your achievement," I assure her.
"Sometimes you're so formal," she says with a nervous sounding laugh. "Um...tonight, Rio...we need to talk."
"I agree."
"You do?"
"I know what I feel. It is not going to change." Some things were meant to be. "It is time to settle our future. And I give you full warning, I expect you in mine."
